THE BATTLE
The two tramps who were coming down the track halted on reaching the
one who had attacked Jet, and all had a brief conversation, which
evidently concerned the occupant of the shanty.
Jet watched every movement, but while they were talking he had an
opportunity to gaze around the hut in the hope of seeing other means of
defense.
It was empty, with the exception of a pile of straw in one corner,
which most likely had served as a bed for these or other tramps.
"There's nothing for it but to stand up here as long as possible, and
perhaps somebody will come along before they can get the best of me,"
he said grimly. "If things are going on at this rate, it would have
been better for me if I'd stayed with the show, for this isn't doin'
very much toward findin' the murderers."
The men had finished their conversation, and were now approaching the
shanty.
Jet raised the heavy cane, and stood ready for the battle.
It was not to begin as quickly as he thought, for the three men halted
a few yards away, and one of them said, in a wheedling tone, as he
stepped several paces nearer:
"See here, sonny, we're poor, hard-workin' carpenters out of a job.
There's no need of havin' trouble with you; but we're that hungry as to
make a fight seem pleasant alongside of suckin' our thumbs an' eatin'
wind-puddin' all the time."
"What do you mean by all that?"
"Nothin' more'n to let you know how we're fixed."
"It doesn't concern me."
"There's where you're makin' a big mistake, sonny. You've got money
an' we're broke, so it's nothin' more'n fair you should whack up."
"I'm no better off than you are, or I wouldn't be walking instead of
riding on the cars."
"Then come out like a man an' show us what you have got."
"I'd be a fool to do that, for it's none of your business."
"Now you're makin' another mistake. We've been put here to find out
sich things."
"There's no use of all this chinning, for I'm not a fool," Jet cried,
angrily. "I shan't come out, nor will you have a chance to rob me."
"I'm sorry you won't listen to reason, for we may have to treat you
mighty rough before this job is finished."
"Do the best you know how, but remember that I'm going to have
something to say first," and Jet swung the cane threateningly.
"Better take him right out; we'll have visitors before long, an' it
won't do to have sich a cub around," the leader of the party said, as
he advanced, after having armed himself with several huge rocks.
Now the battle began in downright earnest.
Almost before Jet understood that the men were ready to make the attack
a shower of stones were hurled against the shanty, and two came
unpleasantly near his head as they were flung through the door.
"If one of them hits me the jig is up," Jet muttered, dodging his head
barely in time to escape a huge fragment which would have crushed his
skull like an eggshell.
"We'll give you one more chance to come out peaceable like," the leader
cried, as he motioned for his companions to cease firing.
If it had not been for the ignominy of backing down from the bold stand
he had taken, Jet would have accepted the invitation.
The small amount of money in his possession did not warrant a risk of
life, and then again he was but delaying the real purpose of his life
by remaining.
His pride prevented him from surrendering, and he made no reply.
Again the men advanced with a shower of stones, and now they were so
near that Jet could only find shelter by hugging the side of the hut
nearest the door.
"Can't some of you hit him?" the leader asked, angrily. "We mustn't
keep the fun up very long, for the boss is bound to come mighty soon,
an' there'll be a row that amounts to something if he finds us foolin'
like this."
These words caused the men to renew their efforts, and twice did Jet
receive a severe blow on the body before he found an opportunity to
return the compliment.
Then one of the fellows, leaning over the barricade in order to take
better aim, presented a fair target.
Jet brought the cane down on his head with full force, and the fellow
fell to the ground like one dead.
A roar of rage went up from the others, but they prudently fell back a
short distance, dragging their companion with them.
"You see it isn't going to be so one-sided as you fancied," Jet cried.
"Now haul off an' I'll leave without saying another word."
"You won't have much more chance to talk," the leader cried, savagely,
as he gathered another armful of rocks; but before he could renew the
attack a shout from the distance caused him to drop his weapons very
suddenly.
"The boss has come, an' now we shall get a tongue-lashing!" one of the
fellows said, as if in alarm.
"I reckon that won't hurt us very much," the leader replied, but at the
same time he dropped the rocks, and stood ready to receive the
new-comer.
Jet could not see the track from where he was standing, but he heard
what sounded like a familiar voice ask, sharply:
"Now what kind of deviltry are you fellers into?"
"Trying to drive out a rat we've got cornered in here."
"Same old tricks, eh? Well, some of these days you'll bite off more
than can be chewed easily, an' then the jig will be up for all hands.
Can't you act decent one day in a month?"
"That depends. When we're left alone three or four weeks on mighty
short allowance, it stands us in hand to look out for ourselves," the
leader of the party replied, insolently.
"Take care of your tongue, my friend, or there'll be something else
needin' care precious soon. Let me see your game."
Jet heard the sound of rapid footsteps, and an instant later the tall
man whom he had such good cause to remember was standing at a safe
distance trying to peer into the shanty.
"Hello!" he cried, in surprise, as he recognized the boy. "It seems
that you've been doin' a lucky stroke of business without knowing it.
Don't let him give you the slip, an' bring him over to the house as
soon as possible."
"Somebody you know?" one of the fellows asked.
"Yes, a boy who has found out too much for his own good, and he must be
kept mighty close."
"It wouldn't take long to fix that for you," was the significant reply.
"We may have to do it; but Bob is agin that kind of business, an' to
humor him we must keep the cub awhile."
"Has Bob come back?"
"He must be at the house by this time."
"Have you brought grub?"
"Of course not. Do you think we travel around the country loaded down
like pack horses?"
"Better do that than go hungry."
"Is everything used up?"
"Yes, or we shouldn't be down here."
"I'll see to layin' in a stock, an' there shall be plenty to drink.
When you can get hold of the boy, come along; I'll start now."
The man disappeared from view, and the sound of his footsteps told that
he was walking rapidly away in the direction from which he had
approached.
"What a fool I was to stay here fightin' for less than two dollars,
when by giving it up I might have been half a mile from here before
that villain came!" Jet said, bitterly, as he nerved himself for what
he knew must be the final struggle.
He had good cause for fear.
After the instructions which had been given there was little chance the
men would let him slip through their fingers, and, with such an
incentive on their part, there was no hope the struggle could be
prolonged.
The man whom he had stricken down was now on his feet, vowing
vengeance, and ready to continue the fight.
"Close right in on him," the leader said as he seized a stout rail from
a near-by fence. "He can only hit one blow, and the job is ended."
"I'll give them a chance to remember me," Jet said, as he stood ready
for the attack, and the words had hardly come into his mind before the
men were in front of him.
Striking out with all his strength, his cane came in contact with the
leader's weapon, shattering the former, and the fight was over.
Two of the men seized him by the arms, and the third amused himself by
slapping the helpless boy in the face until tired of the sport.
"Tie his hands, an' we'll mosey along. Joe is after something to
drink, an' we must be there in time to get our share."
One of the party had rope enough in his pocket to obey the order, and
in a twinkling Jet's arms were bound so tightly to his sides as to
cause great pain.
During all this time he had not spoken a word, but he did a "power of
thinking."
In the first place he scrutinized his captors carefully, in order to be
able to give a perfect description of them in case he succeeded in
making his escape, and then took a good survey of the surrounding
country, that he might find his way back again.
"Now get along, an' walk sharp, or what I have given you will seem no
more than a flea-bite alongside of the whalin' you'll get," the leader
said as one of the party started off, and he pushed Jet behind him.
The prisoner could do no less than obey, and despite the disadvantage
of walking with his hands tied, he managed to keep pace with the
others. During nearly half an hour the party continued on at a rapid
pace, turning out of the railroad track about a quarter of a mile from
the shanty, and striking directly through the woods.
At the end of this time they had arrived at what appeared to be little
more than a clearing in the woods, where was situated a rude log house
of two stories, around which was piled a complete circle of cordwood
not less than six feet high.
It may have been cut for fuel, but it would serve admirably as
breast-works if the place was attacked by officers.
A small outbuilding, which was evidently used as a stable, stood
fifteen or twenty feet in the rear of the main building, inside the
circle of wood, and near the door were tied two savage looking dogs,
who tugged and pulled at their chains, while they barked loudly as the
party approached.
"If we had left them loose, I don't reckon either the boss or Bob would
have cared to come very near while we were away," the leader of the
party said grimly, as he went toward the stable, leaving the others in
charge of the prisoner.
"There ain't much chance I'll ever be able to tell the inspector what
I've been doing," Jet thought as he entered the enclosure formed by the
fuel, and was led toward the single door of which the house boasted.
"Those dogs would be worse than a hundred men if a fellow was trying to
sneak off."
He had no further opportunity for speculation just then, for the men
pushed him roughly into the house, and he stood in front of the short
man who had so successfully acted the part of a gentleman at the Union
Square Hotel.